I have a novel idea. Get a nice remotes holder - mine will hold about a dozen vertically on the end table.

Depending on what I am going to do, I take out the required OEM remotes & line them up on the coffee table - gives me a feeling of power, ha!. Turn on the subs with Velodyne's remote, turn on the Sony BD Player with its remote, turn on the Sony TV with its remote & finally turn on the Denon AVR with its remote. This sequence ensures no HDMI handshaking problems.

Watch the movie using mostly the Sony BD remote that works just like it is supposed to.

When finished, shut everything down in sequence & replace the remotes into their holder - unfortunately, the feeling of power diminishes dramatically.

Unless i'm just missing seeing it with the universal remote, i don't see that it has activity buttons, like "watch tv", "play DVD", "listen radio", "play CD". All i see is that it replaces multiple remotes, which won't simplify the process nearly as much because you still have to do every function. You need a remote like the Harmony One which is worth paying a premium price for that added simplicity.

I use the harmony 1100, but don't recommend that one, unless your equipment is in another room, like mine, or behind a closed door, and you like to buy a new one about once a year. I have no experience with the harmony one, but many people here have liked it.

When I want to watch a movie, I hit the touch screen button that says "DVD/blu-ray". This powers on the TV and selects the proper input mode. It powers on the AVR and puts it in the play DVD mode. It powers on the blu-ray player. I open the tray and put the movie in and close the tray. Wait for the menu on the blu-ray and play. When done, I remove the disc, close the tray, then push power off button on the remote. It powers off all 3 devices. If instead of turning it off I want to watch Tv now, it powers off the blu-ray player, but leaves the other components on, and sets them to the settings that's needed to watch TV. I don't have to remember anything.

My luck with the Harmony 1100 has put the failure rate at once a year. I'm currently on my third one. I plan on purchasing an IR extender so I can use both the original remotes and a Harmony One, if it has the ability to program activities.

I find the touch screen is only useable for so many touches, then fails. It also depends on how much you use it.

I felt I needed the Harmony 1100 because my equipment is in the room behind the TV. But an IR extender will accomplish the same thing and cost 1/3 as much.

Have you thought about a harmony touch (harmony one is discontinued).. I will if the 1100 fails.. really liked the fact that I can see & use 1100 in the dark and the programmable activities hope it will last...

Originally Posted By: CatBrat

My luck with the Harmony 1100 has put the failure rate at once a year. I'm currently on my third one. I plan on purchasing an IR extender so I can use both the original remotes and a Harmony One, if it has the ability to program activities.

I find the touch screen is only useable for so many touches, then fails. It also depends on how much you use it.

I felt I needed the Harmony 1100 because my equipment is in the room behind the TV. But an IR extender will accomplish the same thing and cost 1/3 as much.